Exposed ceiling grid system



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United States Patent 3,239,035 EXPGSED CEILDJG GRHD SYSTEM Henry Znamirowski, Baltimore, Md, assignor to Eastern Products Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Apr. 8, 1964), Ser. No. 20,936 10 Claims. ((31. 1189-36) This invention relates generally to building construction, especially to suspended ceilings and more particularly to ceiling grids for supporting ceiling panels.

Suspended ceilings may comprise an initial installation or be utilized to construct a false ceiling beneath a finished ceiling. The grid system comprises a light gauge metal framework suspended by Wires from a structural ceiling slab or roof joists, the grid including pre-formed inverted T-cross sectioned bars which abut each other at right angles and are secured to each other to maintain this relationship. The bottom flanges of the T-cross sectioned members are exposed and serve as the support for various types of ceiling panels especially designed for their acoustical, decorative or light reflecting qualities.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a grid system for a ceiling means whereby the ceiling may be installed in a relatively economical and expeditious manner, utilizing the minimum of skilled help and material.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a novel grid system fastening means formed integral on the cross members and cooperating with pre-formed portions on the main runners.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel cross-member including novel fastening means whereby a pair of the cross-members may be connected in longitudinal alignment on opposite sides of a main runner, or single cross-members may be connected at right angles to a main runner to facilitate the construction of an inline or staggered grid system.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of an inline grid system supporting a plurality of ceiling panels;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in which a crossmember will be connected to a marginal main runner in a staggered" grid system;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the main runner and cross-member of FIGURE 2, with a portion of the web of the main runner being broken away and showing in section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the novel cross-members utilized with a main runner to form a portion of an inline grid system;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical elevation taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIGURE 7 and showing the two crossmembers of FIGURE 5 in assembled relation to the main runner; and

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, specifically to FIG- URE 1, a fragmentary portion of a suspended ceiling is indicated generally at 10 and includes a plurality of invert'ed T-shaped cross section parallel main runners 12 and 12 suspended by wires 14 and connected to right angularly related cross-members 16. Ceiling panels 18 3,239,035 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 are supported on the horizontal flanges of runners 12, 12 and cross-members 16. The main runners 12 are intermediate of the ceiling while the members 12 are on the ceiling margin which are equivalent main runners used in a staggered grid system.

Referring to FIGURES 2-3, the main runner 12' includes a horizontal flange 20 having a reverse bend 22 at one longitudinal edge, and a reverse bend overlying fold 24 at the other longitudinal edge. The fold 24 continues in an intermediate vertical web 26 having an upper rolled reinforced edge 28. Extending transversely through the web 26 is a vertically extending slot 30 which includes upper and lower opposed notched out portions 32, 32, which are wider than two thicknesses of the metal used in the webs of the cross-members 16, the purpose of which will subsequently be described in detail.

Spaced from the slot 3% are elongated openings 48, see FIGS. 1-4, which include vertical edges 50' for a purpose to be described.

The cross-members 16 comprise a horizontal flange 34 including a reverse bend 36 at one edge and a reverse bend fold 38 forming the other edge. The fold 38 continues in a vertical web 40 of less height than the web 26 of the main runners and terminates in a reverse bend reinforcing bend 42. The web 40 has formed integral therewith a terminal, longitudinally projecting extension 44 which is disposed above a transverse terminal abutment edge portion 46 formed in the bottom flange 34 and portions 36, 38 and which will engage the longitudinal edge of the flange 20 of a main runner 12 or 12'. The web 40 includes rearwardly of the edge portion 46 an elongated slot 48 including a vertical forward marginal abutment edge 50 used in the inline grid system to be subsequently described.

The extension 44 is forwardly tapered and is fingerbendable to eliminate the necessity for any special jigs, pliers, etc. The extension 44 includes a vertical shoulder portion 52 forwardly of the abutment edge 46 and reinforced by the reverse bend 42. The shoulder portion 52 will engage the side of the web 26 of a main runner, and the extension 44 will be of a width to extend through the notches 32, 32'. The extension 44 has a cut-out portion 54 which includes a margin 56 defining a fold line 58 in alignment with the shoulder portion 52 and facilitating the lateral bending of the extension 44, as clearly seen in FIGURE 3. A tip portion 66 formed by the opening 62 will be bent at line 64 through the opening 48 at the edge 50 to overlie the web 26, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3. This secondary bend rigidifies the joint and stabilizes the structure although slot 30 is relatively Wide.

The structure heretofore described is that facilitating the assembly of a staggered grid system which is similar to the connection of the cross-members 16 to a marginal main runner 12'. The inline system differs from the staggered, mainly in the fact that the cross-members are not longitudinally aligned and, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, portions of the two systems may be combined.

Considering FIGURES 57, the main runner 12 includes all of the structure described in relation to the runner 12 and thus further description appears to be unnecessary. Additionally, the structure of the crossmembers 16 is the same as that previously described, it being noted that the cut-out portions 48 and marginal edge 50 of the cross-member are not used in the staggered installation.

The extensions 44 of the cross-members 16 include a vertical lateral bend 6t disposing the extensions 44 out of the plane of the web 40 of the cross-members. The

lateral bend in the inline installation permits the webs 40 to be in coplanar relation and the flanges 34 to be in longitudinal alignment; see FIGURE 7. It will be noted from FIGURES 4 and 7, that the notches 32, 32' are wide enough to permit the extensions 44 of opposed and aligned cross-members 16 to be disposed in overlying parallel relation. The extensions 44 will be long enough to extend beyond the edge 50 of the cut-out slots 48.

The extensions include a second transverse cut-out portion 62 which includes a vertical margin 64 which will define a fold line on the extension facilitating bending at the abutment margin 56 to permit the reverse bending of the tip portion 66, so that it overlies the extension 44 and an intermediate portion of Web 4% as clearly seen in FIGURE 7.

In both embodiments or uses of the cross-members, the bending of the terminal extensions will draw the shoulder 52 and the abutment edge of the web and bottom flange, respectively, of member 16 into tight right angular relationship. The cut-out portions 54, 62 facilitate bending of the finger-bendable extensions and the cut-out 48 provides for a very satisfactory inline installation. It will be observed that the bendable, terminal extension 44 of the cross members will provide means to draw the main runners into tight relation with the cross members. In the inline installation of FIGS. 6 and 7, there will be direct flow of stress from one crossmember in line with the other.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ceiling grid system comprising a plurality of right-angularly related main runners and cross members, a first member including a bottom flange and vertically extending web, and a second member connected at right angles .to said first member and including a bottom flange and vertically extending web, said first member including a transverse vertically extending slot portion intermediately of said vertical web, said second member including a finger-bendable terminal extension at the end of the web .thereof which projects beyond the terminal edge of the bottom flange and which is normal thereto, the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member abuttingly engaging the longitudinal edge portion of said first member and orienting said members into right angular relation, the web of said second member including a vertical shoulder portion longitudinally spaced from the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member and disposed above said terminal extension to aid in orienting the members at right angles, said terminal extension being received through said transverse slot portion in said first member and being laterally bent on a vertical fold line in alignment with said vertical shoulder of the second member and engaged on the side of the vertical Web of the first member opposite that engaged by said shoulder whereby the terminal flange edge and web shoulder of the second member are drawn into tight engagement with the flange and web of said first member, said terminal extension including a transverse cut-out portion having a vertical marginal edge in substantial alignment with said fold line and the terminal end of said vertical shoulder, said transverse cut-out portion facilitating finger-bending of said terminal extension.

2. In a ceiling grid system comprising a plurality of right-angularly related main runners and cross-members, a first member including a bottom flange and vertically extending web, and a second member connected at right angles to said first member and including a bottom flange and vertically extending Web, said first member including a transverse vertically extending slot portion intermediately of said vertical web, said second member including a terminal extension at the end of the web thereof which projects beyond the terminal edge of the bottom flange and which is normal thereto, the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member abuttingly engaging the longitudinal edge portion of said first member and orienting said members into right angular relation, the terminal extension of said second member including a vertical shoulder portion longitudinally spaced from the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member to aid in orienting the members at right angles, said terminal extension being received through said transverse slot portion in said first member and being laterally bent into a vertical fold line in alignment with said vertical shoulder of the second member and engaged on the side of the vertical web of the first member opposite that engaged by said shoulder whereby the terminal flange edge and web shoulder of the second member are drawn into tight engagement with the flange and web of said first member, said first member including in said web a longitudinally disposed, elongated slot spaced from said vertically extending slot portion and including an edge portion receiving a finger-bendable portion of said terminal extension thereabout, said terminal extension including a second transverse aperture including :1 marginal edge facilitating bending the end portion of said extension, the terminal extension being folded in juxtaposed relation through said longitudinally disposed slot on the side of said first member at which said second member is disposed.

3. For use in a ceiling grid system, a cross-member having a horizontal flange and a vertical web of said cross-member including a finger-bendable terminal extension extending beyond a transverse abutment edge on the horizontal flange thereof, a vertical abutment shoulder on said web above said terminal extension and longitudinally spaced from the transverse abutment edge, said terminal extension including a first transverse cutout portion having a marginal edge in substantial alignment with said abutment shoulder and defining a first vertical fold line in said terminal extension, a second transverse cut-out portion longitudinally spaced from said first cut-out portion and having a vertical margin defining a second vertical fold line in said terminal extension, the web of the cross-member including a longitudinally extending slot having a vertical margin parallel to and spaced from the vertical margin of said second cut-out portion.

4. The structure of claim 3; said terminal extension being laterally off-set between the first cut-out portion and said elongated slot.

5. The structure of claim 3; said vertical flange of the cross member including a reverse-bend folded portion reinforcing said shoulder.

6. The structure of claim 5; said terminal extension being laterally off-set between the first cut-out portion and said elongated slot.

7. In a ceiling grid system comprising a plurality of right angularly related main runners and cross-members, a main runner comprising a horizontal flange including a vertical web having a vertical slot extending transversely therethrough, a pair of cross-members connected at right angles to said main runner, each cross member including a horizontal flange integral with an intermediate vertical web, the vertical web of each cross-member including a terminal extension projecting beyond a transverse, terminal abutment edge engageable on opposite sides of the longtiudinal edge of the horizontal flange of the main runner at the vertical slot therethrough, said cross-members including a vertical shoulder on the terminal extension, longitudinally spaced from the transverse abutment edge and engaged at opposite sides of the main runner web above the vertical slot therethrough, the vertical Webs of each cross-member including an elongated slot spaced inwardly of terminal extension thereof and having a vertical margin around which the terminal extension of the other cross-member is foldably received.

8. The structure of claim 7; said terminal extension including a transverse cut-out portion having a margin defining a vertical fold line for facilitating manual bending of the terminal extensions through said elongated slots and around the vertical margins of said elongated slots.

9. The structure of claim 7; said terminal extension being laterally oil-set from the plane of the vertical webs of said cross-members, the webs of the cross-members lying coplanar.

10. In a ceiling grid system comprising a plurality of right-angularly related main runners and cross members, a first member including a bottom flange and vertically extending web, and a second member to be connect d at right angles to said first member and including a bottom flange and vertically extending Web, said first member including a transverse vertically extending slot portion intermediately of said vertical Web, said second member including a finger-bendable terminal extension at the end of the web thereof which projects beyond the terminal edge of the bottom flange and which is normal thereto, the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member abuttingly engaging the longitudinal edge portion of said first member and orienting said members into right angular relation, the web of said second member including a vertical shoulder portion longitudinally spaced from the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member and disposed above said terminal extension to aid in orienting the members at right angles, said terminal extension extending through said transverse slot portion in said first member, said terminal extension including a finger-bendable end portion folded on a vertical line spaced from the terminal edge of the bottom flange of said second member, said fingerbendable end portion overlying another portion of said terminal extension, and means disposed between said finger-bendable end portion and another portion of said terminal extension for securing said first and second members to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,392 5/1913 Gainon et a1. 1,169,461 1/1916 Clark 189-36 1,353,452 9/ 1920 Chipperfield 220-4 2,331,867 10/ 1943 Marshal 229-6 2,509,732 5/ 1950 Ernestus 52-667 2,776,030 1/1957 Bush 189-36 2,878,761 3/1959 Harder et a1. 52-41 X 2,903,104 9/1959 Brown 189-36 2,946,414 7/1960 Gordon et a1 189-36 FOREIGN PATENTS 47,264 1911 Austria. 563,038 12/ 1957 Belgium.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

CORNELIUS D. ANGEL, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

Examiners.

M. L. MINSK, J. D. LISTER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A CEILING GRID SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF RIGHT-ANGULARLY RELATED MAIN RUNNERS AND CROSS MEMBERS, A FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING A BOTTOM FLANGE AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING WEB, AND A SECOND MEMBER CONNECTED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID FIRST MEMBER AND INCLUDING A BOTTOM FLANGE AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING WEB, SAID FIRST MEMBER INCLUDING A TRANSVERSE VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT PORTION INTERMEDIATELY OF SAID VERTICAL WEB, SAID SECOND MEMBER INCLUDING A FINGER-BENDABLE TERMINAL EXTENSION AT THE END OF THE WEB THEREOF WHICH PROJECTS BEYOND THE TERMINAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE AND WHICH IS NORMNAL THERETO, THE TERMINAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING THE LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID FIRST MEMBER AND ORIENTING SAID MEMBERS INTO RIGHT ANGULAR RELATION, THE WEB OF SAID SECOND MEMBER INCLUDING A VERTICAL SHOULDER PORTION LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM THE TERMINAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF SAID SECOND MEMBER AND DISPOSED ABOVE SAID TERMINAL EXTENSION TO AID IN ORIENTING THE MEMBERS AT RIGHT ANGLES, SAID TERMINAL EXTENSION BEING RECEIVED THROUGH SAID TRANSVERSE SLOT PORTION IN SAID FIRST MEMBER AND BEING LATERALLY BENT ON A VERTICAL FOLD LINE ON ALIGNMENT WITH SAID VERTICAL SHOULDER OF THE SECOND MEMBER AND ENGAGED ON THE SIDE OF THE VERTICAL WEB OF THE FIRST MEMBER OPPOSITE THAT ENGAGED BY SAID SHOULDER WHEREBY THE TERMINAL FLANGE EDGE WEB SHOULDER OF THE SECOND MEMBER ARE DRAWN INTO TIGHT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLANGE AND WEB OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID TERMINAL EXTENSION INCLUDING A TRANSVERSE CUT-OUT PORTION HAVING A VERTICAL MARGINAL EDGE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FOLD LINE AND THE TERMINAL END OF SAID VERTICAL SHOULDER, SAID TRANSVERSE CUT-OUT PORTION FACILITATING FINGER-BENDING OF SAID TERMINAL EXTENSION. 